It appears that your browser has JavaScript disabled.
To get the most out of the AFL website, we require you to have JavaScript enabled.

Top teams dominate Under-18s All Australian side

Jason Phelan
Jul 6, 2012 12:43PM

Eye CatchersComplete wrap of the Under 18 Champs & draft prospects

Nathan Hrovat was named in the Under-18s All Australian team

DIVISION one champions Vic Metro and second-placed South Australia dominate the 2012 All Australian team, released at the conclusion of this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

Seven Croweaters earned All Australian honours this year with six Vic Metro players also making it into the elite 22-man squad.

Each year the All Australian team provides an early indicator of the players likely to go early in the NAB AFL Draft, six of last year's squad were taken inside the top 10, and this team should be another strong pointer to the make-up of the first round.

Prospective No.1 pick Lachie Whitfield is one of three Vic Country representatives and he's is joined by players of the calibre of SA trio Jimmy Toumpas, Brodie Grundy and Ben Kennedy as well as exciting West Australian Dayle Garlett.

"When we reflect on this group in a number of years, we think there will be some emerging stars of the AFL who first came to prominence through their performances in these championships," AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said.

"As it has done for many years, All Australian selection is a launching pad for these young men.

"The recognition is fantastic for them and should give them the confidence that they've got the potential to go on and play some good footy at AFL level."

This year's team could also give an insight into the two picks available at the Greater Western Sydney mini-draft.

Jaeger O'Meara and Brad Crouch were both All Australians in 2011 and went on to be taken by Gold Coast and Adelaide respectively after the two clubs won the bidding war for the right to select them.

This year WA 17-year-olds Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan are the early tips to join an AFL club a year early via the trade incentive scheme and both were named in the elite squad.

Brenton Toy, who oversaw the Northern Territory's division two win, is the All Australian coach and Rohan Welsh, coach of Vic Metro, is the assistant coach.